Cold little mouse finds a home

Once upon a time, there was a sad little mouse. He was sad because he was cold. And he was cold because he couldn't find the sunshine--until one very cold night when he spotted something bright and warm shining out of the very black darkness. Maybe that is the sunshine, he thought. So he traveled a long time across field and frozen river until finally he reached the bottom of a very tall wall. To get to the light, which was high above his frozen little head, the mouse scurried up a tree and onto an eave. His cold little whiskered nose sniffed around and found a hole. A tiny hole. But light and air was coming from the hole. Could that be the sunshine? He stuck his nose in, pushed his way through, and found himself in mouse heaven!

First he was greeted by a large mouse family. They were very welcoming. They showed him a trunk where he could find soft things to make a warm nest. Then they led him to where he could get exercise and have a blast running inside the walls. All the mouse children demonstrated this until their mother told them to settle down. One little boy mouse even showed him how much fun it was to chew on the brightly-colored wires inside the walls. But then, best of all, the mouse family showed him where a whole banquet of fine smelling, delicious food was kept. The cold little mouse, who wasn't cold anymore, was so happy! He decided, because he was a very generous mouse after all, that as soon as he had a good rest and had fattened up a little, he would go back out and tell all his family and friends about the mouse paradise he had found.

Is your home a mouse paradise?

If you would rather not have mice finding paradise in your walls this winter, here are a few things you can do to discourage them:

• Look closely at your foundation, outside walls, and roof area for any gaps, cracks, or holes. Keep in mind that a mouse can squeeze through a hole as small as a dime. Seal all entry points using a caulking gun.

• Trim back tree branches and bushes so that mice and other animals cannot use them as a bridge to reach your home.

• Make sure all windows, screens, and door sweeps are in good repair.

• Keep garbage in tightly sealed containers.

• Thoroughly clean your home, especially areas where food is present.

• Store all food in the refrigerator or in tightly sealed plastic containers.

• Only put down pet food at feeding times.

If you do not have mice, these tips may help you to keep things that way, but if you are seeing the signs of mice in your walls and attic spaces, it is time to bring in a pest professional. The expert technicians here at American Pest have the knowledge and experience to know just exactly how to safely rid your home of mice, and other household pests, so you can rest easy. Don't let your home be a mouse paradise. Contact American Pest for help in Montgomery County today.